Goods transporters postpone strike for 40 days in ‘broader national interest’

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>The goods transporters on Sunday announced that they would postpone their strike for 40 days in the “broader national interest”.</p> <p>The goods transporters had announced a countrywide <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2021626"><u>wheel-jam strike</u></a> on Aug 8 after talks with the government <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2021293">failed</a> over the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2016227"><u>daily fixing</u></a> of petrol and diesel prices, among other issues.</p> <p>A crucial round of talks between senior federal and provincial government officials and transporters’ representatives was scheduled to be held at the Governor House in Karachi today to resolve the issue, after negotiations between the two sides ended <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2022155">without a resolution</a> on Tuesday.</p> <p>All Pakistan Goods Transport Ittehad President Malik Shehbaz Awan said the association had decided, after consultations, to postpone the strike for 40 days in the “broader national interest”.</p> <p>“Some of our issues have been resolved immediately. For those requiring cabinet approval, 15 to 20 days have been given,” he said.</p> <p>Awan said the government had asked for 15 days to address their demand regarding daily fuel price changes, adding that transporters would prefer fuel prices that shifted on a fortnightly or monthly basis.</p> <p>He added that meetings between the government and transporters’ committees would continue.</p> <p>“We have been assured that overloading will be controlled in accordance with the law on axle loads,” he said.</p> <p>Awan asserted that the peaceful protest had not been <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2022955">stopped</a> anywhere during the nine-day period. “Our 50-member committee had called for the strike,” he said.</p> <p>He said their demands had been accepted “to a certain extent” and that the committees formed to address them would continue their consultations.</p> <p>On withholding tax, he said they had been assured by the communications minister that he would raise the issue with the finance minister and that a committee would be formed to resolve it.</p> <p>Meanwhile, he said the Sindh government had assured them that operations would be shifted to a new truck stand within a year.</p> <p>The association’s president claimed that six of their eight demands concerning the Punjab government had also been accepted, while committees had been formed to address the remaining two issues.</p> <p>Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi said both sides — the government and transporters — had “generously agreed with each other’s points of view”.</p> <p>“Pakistan, as well as the entire region, is passing through an extraordinary situation,” he said.</p> <p>The governor added that, in the prevailing situation, all stakeholders must work through mutual consultation and understanding and seek solutions to issues while keeping the national interest at the forefront.</p> <p>Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said the government had succeeded in resolving many of the transporters’ issues.</p> <p>“Some issues will take time to resolve, and committees have been formed to address them,” he said.</p> <p>He hoped that the issues that remained unresolved would be settled in the near future.</p> <p>“We will continue with the same spirit that is being demonstrated for Pakistan.”</p> <p>Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also assured the transporters that the Sindh government would work to resolve their issues.</p> <p>He added some matters would have to be addressed in coordination with the Karachi Port Trust, while others would require legislative changes to be taken up at the relevant forum.</p> <p>Among the key demands of the transporters is the uniform enforcement of axle-load limits across the country and permission for 10-wheel vehicles to carry up to 35 tonnes.</p> <p>They have also demanded reductions in diesel prices and toll taxes, besides seeking relief in withholding tax to ease the financial burden on the transport sector.</p> <p>The transporters have also called for the withdrawal of customs provisions that, according to the association, allow authorities to confiscate vehicles carrying goods found to be in violation of customs laws.</p> <p>Other demands include the withdrawal of the Punjab Highway Patrol’s powers to issue challans to commercial vehicles, an end to what the association described as unnecessary challans and excessive fines on motorways and highways, and measures to facilitate the issuance of heavy transport vehicle licences to drivers.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.